Interseeding Forage Kochia into Established CRP to Improve Fall and Winter Grazing Potential

Abstract

Core Ideas Interseeding forage kochia into established CRP acreage can increase the potential for fall and winter grazing by livestock. The addition of forage kochia improved the nutritive content of the stockpiled forage in terms of both protein and energy. Interseeding forage kochia into established wheatgrass with the intention of fall and winter grazing was an attractive economic alternative to returning expired CRP acres to crop production. Highly erodible farm acres coming out of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts could remain in perennial species and be used for fall and winter grazing if wheatgrass monocultures could be renovated by interseeding nutritious forage species. This on‐farm study evaluated the success of interseeding forage kochia into established wheatgrass stands and measured the effect on forage mass, forage nutritive value, grazing value, and economic return. Tillage treatments of one or two passes with a chisel plow were used to thin existing grass stands, and ‘Immigrant’ forage kochia was broadcast seeded (winter 2007) over the tilled area. Establishment, forage mass, and nutritive value were determined for four consecutive years (2010–2013) during the fall grazing season. Forage kochia became successfully established, with nearly double (179% greater) (P < 0.05) the plant frequency for the two‐pass chisel plow treatment than for the one‐pass treatment. The two‐pass treatment forage mass of 2991 lb/acre was 161% greater than the one‐pass treatment and 303% greater (P < 0.05) than control and resulted in stocking rates of 1.6, 0.9, and 0.5 animal unit month (AUM)/acre, respectively. Interseeding forage kochia improved (P < 0.05) the nutritive value of the stockpiled forage, with crude protein concentrations of 8.8, 7.8, and 4.5% for the two‐pass, one‐pass, and control treatments, respectively. Based on estimated grazing value, the two‐pass treatment had the highest yearly net return of $46.98/acre, compared with $24.82 for the one‐pass treatment and $18.80 for the control. This research documented that interseeding forage kochia into established CRP acreage can increase the potential for fall and winter grazing by livestock.